Friday, February 23, 2007

LETTER FROM ROBERT WEBBER

Robert Webber is a professor and writer who has had a profound influence in my theology and, I can honestly say, how I live out my life as a Christian. Through his writings he has given words to ideas and thoughts that I have had for a long time but didn't know there were others who also thought the same things.

I have been very fortunate to meet Dr. Webber, speak with Dr. Webber and to have access to his Ancient Future books. I was very disheartened when I discovered that he had cancer and that it was terminal.

This morning I received an email from him and want to share it because like most of his writings it struck me in a profound and gentle way:

"After months in and out of the hospital with ever possible complication(kidney failure, emergency operation for a pierced bowel, massiveinfections, and chemo/radiation) I was sent home on December 9th withthe words “You have two to four weeks left to live). On December 9th Iwas a virtual invalid. My wife had to bathe me, dress me, feed me andwalk me. I slept 16-18 hours a day and rarely moved any place except tomy bed and couch. I even went under the care of palpable hospice.However, instead of getting worse and dying as predicted, I graduallybegan to improve. Now, two months later I am practically leading anormal life. I care for myself, walk without a walker, go out to eat,work out (to pound weights) and write every day. I attribute thisimprovement, however long it lasts, to answered prayer – yours and mine,my wife. I have literally bugged and argued with God!

So, in light of my improvement, how do you pray? I want to ask God toheal me but what if he already has. But, I’m also reluctant to bepresumptuous and tell everyone I’ve been healed given the statisticaldownside of pancreatic cancer and the fact that we are foregoing anydefinite tests for now, like a MRI, CT scan or PET scan.

So, here is how Joanne and I solved our dilemma. We live and pray oneday at a time. We pray each day and say, “Thank you God for the healingyou gave me today. Please heal me tomorrow.” It has occurred to both ofus that if we were truly spiritually sensitive, we would have prayedthat way all of our lives but it took the threat of imminent death tobring us to this point...

I hope that you all know that the love and prayers you have “sent” ourway are being returned to you from us. We are so deeply moved by them onour behalf."

Dr. Webber,I hope you continue to heal and please know what a witness to God's continuing grace and love you are.

3 comments:

That is a tremendous testimony of faith. It immediately made me think of St. Paul's words, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." Dr. Weber has clearly experienced the truth that underneath us all are God's everlasting arms.

About Me

I am...
A traveling nomad who ponders the Good only while laying in a hammock.
A bard, or poet, who wants us to re-imagine what we see in the world so that we can learn to tell our stories in a different way.
someone who purposefully does not make sense nor take himself too seriously